Marion County RECORD

A former Marion resident whose Santa Fe St. house was destroyed by fire will serve probation for conspiracy to set the fire.
Gina A. Schaefer, 47, now of Lyons, was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months probation for conspiracy to commit arson.

Whether you call it 190th Rd. or “Old 56,” you can now call the alternate thoroughfare between Marion and Hillsboro something else: Closed indefinitely.
Citing safety concerns from continuing erosion of the Cottonwood River bank on the south side of the road just east of Old Mill Rd., county officials ordered the road closed between Pawnee and Old Mill Rds. at about 5 p.m. Tuesday.

When Gavin Shields closed his Lincolnville auto and truck repair shop earlier this year, it made sense to move leftover cars, equipment, tires, and such to a lot on the south end of town where he had been storing some cars for about a year.
It didn’t make sense to nearby residents, nor to the county planning and zoning commission, which voted Thursday to deny Shields’ application for a conditional use permit.

An alleged domestic dispute took a dangerous turn last week when a woman allegedly took shots at her boyfriend’s truck while he allegedly drove it around her yard, damaging property.
At approximately 7:21 p.m., sheriff’s deputies Michael Ottensmeier and Bronson Shipman investigated a report of a domestic disturbance involving Diane Muzyka and James “Jimmy” Scopel, both 53 and of Peabody, at 1325 110th Rd.

When John W. Garrard started losing his balance while he was in high school, his family knew something was amiss.
As a child, he was diagnosed with autism, but that didn’t account for additional issues that arose when he was in high school, his mother Sam Garrard said. The family found out he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, when he was an adult.

City council didn’t budge Monday on the asking price for a strip of property in Batt Industrial Park.
Brendan Kraus has met twice with the council, offering to buy half the lot that lies north of his business, Spur Ridge Veterinary Hospital, for half price.

Courts specializing in drug-related cases are often lauded for helping addicts get on, and stay on, a straight path,
However, it’s not likely Marion County offenders will benefit from a drug court anytime soon.

A small area of downtown Marion is getting an Internet upgrade with new fiber optic lines installed.
Workers for Universal Communication, a communication construction company, worked last week to install new fiber lines.

Registration deadline for the Old Settler’s Day weekend 4 person scramble and 18 holes flighted is due by Sept. 12.
Registration for the Friday tournament will begin at 10:45 a.m. Sept. 23 at Marion Country Club. Entry fee is $65 per person or $260 per team. Carts are not included, but are available to rent for $45.

History repeats itself, and in the case of Marion golfer Aaron Hett, so does scoring a hole-in-one.
Hett snagged his second ace Saturday on the banks of the Lake of Ozarks at Old Kinderhook Golf Course, in Camdenton, Missouri, while golfing with friends and family. He logged his first hole-in-one at Marion Country Club years ago.

Elsie Groening, 91, died Aug. 24 at Hillsboro Community Hospital in Hillsboro.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, with interment preceding at 10 a.m. at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Jost Funeral Home, Hillsboro

Eugene Wilford Hicks, 87, Herington, died Thursday at Wesley Woodlawn Hospital, Wichita.
A memorial service will be 7 p.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Herington. The family will receive friends following services at the church. A private inurnment will be held at a later date.

Welcome to America’s most ironic holiday, Labor Day.
You’ll encounter the irony just about anywhere you choose to go Monday where you have an opportunity to spend money.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS:

The Marion High School class of 1971 will have its 50-year reunion Old Settlers’ Day weekend, Sept. 23 and 24.
Class members will meet at the Historic Elgin Hotel on Friday, Sept. 23, for a social hour from 6 to 7 p.m. and dinner immediately following.

Marion County Democrats met Saturday in the Sunflower Room at Marion City Library.
Guests included county chair of Dickinson County, county treasurer Jeanine Bateman, county election officer Tina Spencer, and district court clerk Jan Helmer.

Julane Hiebert, author of “Brides of a Feather” book series, will give a presentation at noon Sept. 14 during Lunch n’ Learn at Marion City Library.
Hiebert incorporates a love of Kansas prairies and life lessons into the lives of her ordinary, “not-too-perfect” characters. She also explores issues of “God’s truth” and spirituality in her stories.

Last minute parade, craft, and vendor entries for Burdick Labor Day celebration are still welcome. Interested parties can contact Carla Engler (785) 983-4307 for craft and vendor entries, and Bill and Jennifer Kassebaum (785) 983-4407 for parade entries.

Jeremy and Krista Matlock, associate pastoral couple with Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, will kick off Tabor College’s fall series of Lifelong Learning presentations by sharing stories and adventures from their visit to Russia and China.
The program starts at 9:45 a.m. Friday in the Wohlgemuth Music Education Building. The public is invited to attend. Registration is $5 at the door.

MEMORIES:

SENIOR CENTER:

Marion High school freshman Grace Overton unleashed something wild in Marion Middle School this summer.
Using no more than a keen eye, a sure hand, and art supplies, she created a massive, caterwauling Wildcat head for an entryway bulletin board at MMS.

Marion High School FFA district reporter Aidan Cairns attended Kansas FFA District Officer’s Conference Aug. 13 and 14 at Rock Springs Ranch in Junction City.
During the conference, Cairns participated with other officers is workshops and activities designed to develop leadership skills and facilitate local chapter activities.

Newborns to five-year-olds and their families from around the county can enjoy activities at the 12th annual Big Truck Night 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at Hillsboro Elementary School.
Free refreshments and gifts for kids will be available along with big trucks to view.

Any coach would love to have a bevy of starters back for another season, and Marion Warriors coach Grant Thierolf has that.
But he also knows last year’s experience won’t win this year’s games, particularly against a beefed-up slate that includes Hesston and Southeast of Saline.

Marion volleyball has a rep, and it’s a good one, at least among coaches.
Last year’s 33-4 record made enough of an impression that the Lady Warriors are listed 10th in the Kansas Volleyball Coaches Association 3A preseason rankings.

Marion High School runners Emily Hague and Colin Williams will lead this year’s cross-country team as they stride into the season.
Last year, Hague placed 15th as a junior in the girls’ 3A state race, and Williams placed 57th as sophomore in the boys’ race.

It could be said, after a winless 2015 campaign, that there’s no place to go but up for the Hillsboro Trojans football team.
But new head coach Devin Metzinger is headed a different direction: Wide.

What Hillsboro volleyball coach Sandy Arnold sees on the court looks promising. What she hears leaves her wanting more.
With the departure of Alex Ratzlaff and Shannon Heiser, Arnold is in search of leaders. Loud ones.

Peabody-Burns head football coach David Pickens is looking forward to what this upcoming football season will bring, even though he lost several seniors to graduation.
“I’m excited to see kids playing roles they haven’t in the past,” Pickens said. “It’s gonna be exciting to see it all come together.”

With 17 girls out for volleyball this season, Coach Sheena Gann is not as nervous for her second year coaching as she was her first.
“I feel pretty confident,” Gann said. “I’m excited to see the season come together. We’re a bit more of a seasoned team this year.”

Matt Warta is excited to be coaching the Centre Cougars this year. The 1999 Centre graduate was a member of the 1997 football team that won the state championship.
He started that year as a defensive end and played under three different coaches: Bud Peterson, Stan Wiles, and Justin Rediker.

Centre’s new volleyball coach, Susan Saunders, has been playing the game since fourth grade. She was a member of an Augusta High School volleyball team that went to state three years in a row. In her senior year, they won the 4A state championship with just seven players.
After playing one year at Colby Community College, Saunders transferred to Friends University in Wichita, where she was part of a team that went undefeated in league play and qualified for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national tournament in 1986.

There’s nothing quite like a state championship to build anticipation for a new season, and the Goessel volleyball team is feeling it.
“I think excitement would describe this team,” coach Crysta Guhr said “They tasted success last year and want it again this year.”

The Goessel girls’ cross-country team begins the season with 10 girls focused on bettering last year’s sixth-place team finish at the state meet in Wamego.
Seniors Jennifer Meysing and Lauren Rymill and junior Julia Nightengale return to lead this year’s team.

Goessel football heads into the season with three key ingredients for success: Veteran players, speed, and a positive attitude.
“We are expecting great teamwork this season and a good year,” running back Trevor Beisel said.

Of the five athletes on Centre’s cross country team, junior CJ Thompson is the only returning letter winner.
Thompson advanced to varsity as a freshman and qualified for the state meet last year. His personal record is 19 minutes, 37 seconds.

Rob Haude inherited a mixed bag for his first Hillsboro cross-country coach: He doesn’t have many runners, but three of them know what it takes to get state.
Senior Jonathan Hinerman and sophomore Abby Driggers ran in the state 2A meet in Wamego last year, placing 29th and 63rd, respectively.

With two returning players, four brand new, and an experienced German exchange student on the team, Hillsboro girls’ tennis is a seven-piece athletic puzzle to solve this season.
“I’m just trying to figure out where all the pieces go,” coach Bob Woelk said. “A lot is going to depend on how the girls perform in competition.”

Centre girls’ golf goes into its third year with two returning letter winners.
Senior Hannah Peterson has lettered for two years. She did well in many tournaments last year, including winning the Emporia tourney.